Clamp



Dec. 23, 1941. F. c. WALLACE 2,266,929

CLAMP Filed Aug. 23, 1941 Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y azssszs n I j e I n CLAMP Frank c. Wanne, Los sngelaca'm., um to Hollywood Comb Cutler, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application August za, 1941, serai No. 46ans;

said copending application.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a clamp, of the character described in my said copending application, having a fully rotatable clamp pin, which prevents deformation g of the clamp pin during use. For instance, the clamp described in my copending application is comprised of a cylindrlc body having a spring pressed split clamp pin slidably mounted longitudinally therein, there being a stationary spreader secured in the body between the segments of the split pin to spread the segments into engagement with the side wall of the registering holes in the sheets being clamped together. I have found that the spiral spring tends to cause rotation of the pin during its sliding movement with respect to the body and also workmen tend to twist or rotate such a. device when applying and removing it with a clamp operating tool. Thus if the pin is secured against rotative movement, it rapidly becomes deformed or broken in use. My present improvements overcome this objection.

Another object is to further facilitate allowing the clamp pin free rotatabillty by means of providing a floating spreader.

How these and still further advantages of myy invention are achieved will become apparent from the following explanation of a presently preferred adaptation theerol', for which -purpose I shall refer to the accompanying drawing, in which:

1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsection showing the clamp being inserted in aligned perforations;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the clamp in an intermediate position;

5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the dence in clamping position;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of F18. 2: and

Fig. 'I'is a view on line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawing. I show at 5-a cylindric body having an end wall 1 through which there is a central hole 8. A'cap 9 is the cap being spaced from wall 1 and having a central hole I0. The body has a portion il of reduced diameter to receive a clamp spplyin tool not shown. A split retaining pin I5 is longitudinally slidably mounted in the body and projects at its outer end through holes l and il. This pin is comprised of the sections IBG. lib

' having enlarged outer ends I0 and presenting a head l1 at its opposite end. The inner surfaces of the pin sections adjacent the outer end are cut away to provide a longitudinal slot Il so that the pin may move longitudinally with respect to the T-shaped'spreader 2l. This spreader Vin cludes a iiat cross arm 20a which is limited against longitudinal movement by the walls 1.- la between which it loosely lits, but is free to rotate about its transverse axis within the space between said walls. The central arm 20h projects outward through hole Il longitudinally between pin sections lia, lib.

The inner end oi the Vpin l5 is rotatably mounted in sleeve 25. the head of the pin being countersunk and fitting loosely in the recess 21 provided in the headed end 28 of the sleeve. coil spring 30 is mounted inbody 5 around the pin, seatingatits inner end against end wall 1 and at its outer end against head 28 of the sleeve.

In operation, my clamp is used as follows: First, by means of a suitable tool, the pin is pushed inwardly of the body against the spring to the position ot Fig. 3. In this position, the enlarged ends I8 arespaced outwardly from the spreader a sufllcient distance to enable the outer ends of the pin sections 15a, lib to be ilexed towards each other to enable the enlarged ends to pass through the aligned holes provided in a plurallty of superposed sheets S to the'position of Fig. 4. When the inward pressme on the inner end of the pin is then released, the spring Il slides the pin in the opposite direction, bringing it to the position of Fig. 5, where it is resiliently held with the -pin ends I 6 compressing the sheets S against the end wall 9a of the cap 9. thus holding the sheets together and the holes in alignment. To remove the clamp, the clamp operating tool is again applied to compress spring Ill and slide the pin to the position of Fig. 4 and the enlarged ends I8 may be then withdrawn l through the holes in the sheets.-

One of the particular advantages of this construction resides in the fact that the pin as well as the spreader is free' to rotate with respect to the body to 'prevent the pin being twisted or distorted by virtue of the normal twisting movement crimped onto the end of body 5, the end wall of which a workman uses lio-apply and remOVe the through and rotatable with respect to the hous'- ing, and a spreader rotatably carried by the housing between said legs whereby to space the legs apart.

2. A clamp for temporarily holding together perforated sheets in superposed relation, including a housing having a base adapted tol rest against the outermost Aof the sheets, a hole through the base, a retaining member slidably and rotatably mounted in the housingl and having legs slidable through the hole whereby to be inserted through registering perforations in the sheets, and a spreader carried by the housing and positioned between the legs, said spreader being rotatable with respect to the housing upon rotation of the legs.

3. A clamp for .temporarily holding together perforated sheetsin superposed relation, including a housing having a base adapted to rest against the outermost of the sheets, a hole through the base, a retaining member slidably mounted in the housing and having legs slidable through and rotatable with respect to the hole whereby to be inserted through registering perforations in the sheets, and a spreader carried by and rotatable with respect to the housing, said spreader extending between the legs whereby to space them apart.

4. The device of claim 3 which includes means limiting longitudinal movement of the spreader with respect to the legs.

5., The device of claim 3 which includesl stop means limiting longitudinal movement of the spreader with respect to the housing.

6. A clamp for temporarily holding together perforated sheets Yin superposed relation, including a housing having a base adapted to rest against one of the sheets, a hole through the base, a sleeve longitudinally movably mounted in the housing and a retaining member rotatably mounted in the'sleeve, said retaining member having legs slidable through the hole whereby to be inserted lthrough registering perforations in the sheets.

7. The device `or daim s 'which includes a spreader rotatably carried by the body and yposi- I' tioned between the legs whereby to space the legs apart.

8. A clamp for temporarily holding together perforated sheets in superposed relation, including a housing having a base adapted to rest against one of the sheets, ahole through'the base, an elongated sleeve longitudinally movably mounted in the housing, said sleeve having a headed end provided with a -central recess, a retaining member rotatably mounted in the sleeve and having legs slidable through the hole whereby to be inserted through registering perforations in the sheets, said retaining member having a head'rotatably mounted in the recess, and a coil spring mounted longitudinally in'the housing around the sleeve, said spring seating at one end against the housing and at its other end against the headed end of the sleeve whereby to resiliently urge said legs inwardly of the housing through said hole.

9. A clamp for temporarily holding together perforated sheets in superposed relation, including a housing having a base, a hole through the base, a cap secured on and in spaced relation to the base, said cap being adapted to rest against the outermost of the sheets, a hole through the cap in register with the hole in the base, a retaining member slidably mounted in the housing and having legs slidable through and rotatable with respect to the holes whereby to be inserted through registering perforations in the sheets, and a spreader rotatably mounted between the base and cap, said spreader having a portion extending between the legs to space them apart.

10. A clamp for temporarily holding together perforated sheets in superposed relation, including a housing having a base, a hole through the base, a cap secured on and in spaced relation to the base, said cap being adapted to rest against the outermost of the sheets, a hole through the cap in register with the hole in the base, a retaining member slidably mounted in the housing and having legs slidable through and rotatable with respect to the holes whereby to be inserted through registering perforations in the sheets,

' and a spreader between the legs, said spreader comprising a T-shaped plate having its cross portion iioatably mounted between the base and cap and its medial portion extending longitudinally between the legs and outwardly through the hole in the cap.

FRANK C. WALLACE.

DISCLAIMER 2,266.,'9129.Frdnk C'. Walldce, Los Angeles, Calif. CLAMP. Patent dated December 23, 1941. Disclaimer le'd November'25, 1944, by the assignee, Herman H. Hbush.- Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1 to 5, inclusive, of said patent.

[Qcal Gazette December 1.9, 1.944.] 

